Motorcoach

Cummins unveils 2013 coach engine lineup

Cummins Inc. unveiled its 2013 engine lineup for the market at the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Expo in Orlando.

The Cummins ISL9 and ISX12 clean-diesel engines meet the 2013 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations as well as the 2014 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) greenhouse gas (GHG) and fuel-efficiency standards, achieving fuel-economy improvements for motorcoach customers.

Both engines will offer customers up to 2% better fuel economy compared with the 2012 model-year engines while also delivering improved reliability. A more efficient fuel pump and water pump on the ISX12, as well as enhancements to the VGT Turbocharger on the ISL9, help reduce overall parasitic loss, resulting in increased fuel efficiency.

In 2013, the EPA regulations call for the same near-zero emissions levels relative to oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), as regulated since 2010. Also included in the 2013 regulations are On-Board Diagnostics (OBD), which are required for the complete on-highway engine lineup. OBD monitors emissions-related engine systems and alerts drivers via an in-cab warning lamp, helping to provide early detection of any potential emissions-related malfunction.

New regulations for 2014 from the EPA and the DOT will institute equivalent carbon dioxide and fuel-efficiency standards for commercial vehicle engines. All Cummins on-highway engines are certified to meet both of these standards, providing customers with a single product launch in 2013.

Coaches include the latest safety technology, including electronic stability control, a new ZF independent front suspension for a superb turning radius and ride quality, and a Bendix braking system that delivers car-like control for drivers.

The UMA is continuing its partnership with BusCon by sponsoring two informative sessions on the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 28 — Social Media Mastery for Motorcoach Operators and Alcohol - What is Your Liability? The show continues on Tuesday and Wednesday with even more educational sessions and the chance to check out BusCon’s show floor

Peilin Liang told NBC News in a telephone interview that without his company's two previous gates at Boston's South Station, which the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority gave away to Megabus and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, his company cannot financially stay afloat.